Bill Tieleman is one of BC's best known communicators, political commentators and strategists.
Bill is a political panelist regularly on CBC Radio and TV in BC and with other media.
Bill has been Communications Director in the B.C. Premier's Office and at the BC Federation of Labour.
Bill owns West Star Communications, a consulting firm providing strategy and communication services for labour, business, non-profits and government.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

BC pushes Public-Private-Partnerships even more with international conference featuring Premier Gordon Campbell

If there was any doubt that the BC Liberal government is leading the way in privatizing the province, get over it.Today I received information about a huge public-private-partnerships conference featuring Premier Gordon Campbell and Richard Abadie, the global head of PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ PPP Advisory Group in Britain, will be held in Vancouver on March 6.

BC currently boasts that there are more than $7.8 billion in P3 projects underway here and claims that California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is following Campbell's lead by introducing P3 as a solution to that state's fiscal crisis and infrastructure needs, as reported here and in my 24 hours column this month.

And that does not include the up to $60 billion in contracts likely to be given to so-called "independent power producers" for expensive, long-term deals to supply BC Hydro with electricity from run-of-river dams and other power projects, as also reported here and in 24 hours.Here are the details of an invitation to the conference, which will cost $300 per person for non-members of the Vancouver Board of Trade, which is sponsoring the event.

VANCOUVER, B.C. (Jan. 23, 2008) – With the number of public private partnerships (PPPs) growing as the province embarks on major infrastructure projects, one of the UK’s foremost PPP experts will join Premier Gordon Campbell and Larry Blain, CEO of Partnerships BC, to review British Columbia’s PPP experience to date and examine the future potential of PPP opportunities.

It’s all part of The Vancouver Board of Trade’s annual half-day B.C. Public Private Partnerships Forum (Thursday, March 6 at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver), which will kick off with a breakfast keynote address by Richard Abadie, the global head of PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ PPP Advisory Group in Britain.

As the size and scope of PPPs grow, attracting the interest of major national and international firms, Abadie will detail what local companies, communities, and economies can expect from PPPs, and will examine the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the global nature of PPP projects.

At the B.C. Public Private Partnerships Forum luncheon, Premier Campbell will describe how PPPs are helping make new and upgraded infrastructure projects practical and affordable for government and taxpayers alike, and what British Columbians can expect from this approach in future.

With a range of views still out there on the effects and impact of PPPs, top business, community and labour leaders will also be invited to voice their opinions during a lively panel session.

Bill Tieleman and Senator Larry Campbell, former Vancouver mayor

Jim Sinclair, Cindy Oliver, Ken Georgetti and Bill Tieleman

Bill Tieleman's coverage of the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid Case praised by other journalists:

"This outstanding piece of journalism, in The Tyee, is the work of a journalist who has been deeply involved with this issue from the start and this article should be passed on as far and wide as possible."

"Bill Tieleman from 24 hours . . . . If you want to know about this trial and about this case, you have to read his blog – I mean, that’s just all there is to it – it’s required reading if you want to understand the BC Legislature Raid situation."

- Mike Smyth, columnist, The Province

"The Basi-Virk case....you’ve probably sat through more of these hearings and gone through more of the files and written about it than any other journalist in the province."

- Bill Good, host, The Bill Good Show, CKNW/Corus Radio Network

"Tieleman ...has done a first-rate job covering the trial."

- Paul Willcocks, columnist, the Victoria Times-Colonist

"Tieleman, who marries a considerable journalistic talent with one of the smartest political minds in the province, has been writing more web-exclusive material. And his coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is a must-read -- whether you're an insider or an outsider."

"24 Hours, the Vancouver paper that has been leading the coverage, as well as the hints of conspiracy in B.C."

- Norman Spector, columnist, Globe and Mail

"Although the major media in this circumstance has been giving the case significant coverage, Tieleman's reports on his blog have been outstanding.

The entire cut and thrust of legal wrangling and arguments has been covered and is accompanied by considered analysis.....His blog site coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is the most in depth treatment of one of British Columbia's biggest political scandals."

- Bill Bell, columnist, The North Shore News

"Mr. Tieleman has published online dispatches which, freed from the limitations of newsprint space or broadcast time, can run at length. They also remain available for those select readers who become obsessed with a case also known as Railgate.....

In another bizarre twist to a story with no shortage of them, Mr. Tieleman went to work one day in December only to discover his office had been ransacked. Bookcases had been tipped over and papers strewn, but nothing was missing.

To top it off, a press kit for the self-published novel The Raid, written by a retired military officer in Metchosin and featuring on its cover a photograph from the 2003 police raid, had been left in a conspicuous place."

- Tom Hawthorn, columnist, The Globe and Mail

Nobody has followed the Basi-Virk affair over its past five years with greater diligence than local journalist, Bill Tieleman....Tieleman deserves our thanks, a fistful of journalism awards and some merit citation for citizenship.